Fresh Start Green Smoothie

Fresh starts are a wonderful thing in life. Recently, this has been a consistent theme for me. I started a new job, switched to a new disease management regimen, and now, looking for a new house. Every "fresh start" comes with a defining moment - a job offer, a cookbook, a workout plan, a For Sale sign in your front yard. It signifies that there's change ahead, which to me is what keeps life fun and interesting.

Like in life, sometimes my diet needs a "fresh start." Cleanses and cleansing foods often symbolize this. I will be the first to admit that cleanse is a misleading word, often associated with week-long juicing, body scrubbing and cayenne-spiced waters that result in headaches, mood swings and several trips to the bathroom. They tend to be a bit much for my delicate system, so I stick to much shorter versions or simply just consume cleansing foods, like this green smoothie. 

I realize that I have taken a VERY LONG break from the blog, but with good reason (see list above). Consider this my fresh start! 

Fresh Start Green Smoothie

Yields: 1 smoothie 

1/2 avocado
1 pear with skin on
Juice from 1/4 lemon
Handful fresh spinach
1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
1/3 cup filtered water
10 mint leaves (can also use cilantro)
1/2 teaspoon honey (optional)

Add everything into a blender and mix at high speed for several minutes. Scrape down the sides if needed and continue to blend. Eat/Drink immediately for best nutritional value.

American Meltdown Love

A few weeks ago, I cheated, I mean I really cheated! Before you judge, hear me out. I was about to dive into a 5-Day Fall Cleanse, one that I knew would really challenge my food cravings. I love to eat, and anyone that knows me, understands that taking that away from me removes a small piece of my soul! Therefore, in order to mentally prepare myself for this cleanse, I decided to indulge as much as possible the night before (which you are not supposed to do according to Cleanse guidelines). 

Enter American Meltdown - the best food truck in Raleigh (or one of many amazing ones)! Hubby and I received word through the social mediasphere of a small food truck rodeo to celebrate a new restaurant opening. We had been trying to track down American Meltdown for a while and noticed they were on the list. This was our chance.

As we arrived in the pouring rain and walked up to the window of the truck, we noticed this shiny silver sign that listed a special, The Truffle Melt. There was no argument from the Hubby there (he has a soft spot for truffles). And yes, it was a $32 sandwich and worth every cent! As we waited anxiously for our food, we chatted it up with the owner and Head Melt Maker Paul. 

He pulled a whole truffle out, while he told us about his "truffle guy" and how it was a pricey risk for him to add this melt to the menu (paid off though). With his Japanese knife and cutting board, he started slicing away. The freshly sliced truffles went on top of sauteed Portabella mushrooms, sottocenere cheese and local bread. All to be served with their famous fried Brussels sprouts.

Delicious, amazing, luxurious, satisfying. This Melt was the perfect way to prepare for my 5-Day Fall Cleanse. It led me to a gluten guilt so bad, the cleanse was the only cure.

Check out their calendar and follow them on social media. It is worth hunting down this truck to taste one of their cheesy, bold, scrumptious melts!

Keep kicking ass American Meltdown.

New Year, New Eats and Cultured Vegetables

I'm back! It was amazing to take a few weeks off from work, training, cooking and, well life in general. However, now my body is in dire need of cleansing and my normal routine! Then there is the inevitable New Year's resolutions. Not me. This will mark the first year that I WON'T make a New Year's resolution. Not that I don't appreciate the whole "fresh start" mentality, I just don't think it should be limited to one day out of the year. A "fresh start" can happen any day of the year.

My fresh start comes in the form of cleansing, eliminating sugar and digestive enzymes! After all the sweets, heavy food, alcohol and several days of no exercise, my body just gets mad at me, forcing me to return to my healthy ways. I thought I would share some of the healthy habits that I have picked up over the last year, mostly in search of a better lifestyle to deal with Crohn's.

First and foremost - cultured vegetables. This has been the single-most important food I have incorporated into my diet since I was diagnosed several years ago. They are simple to make and a batch lasts about a month. The recipe I am sharing today was created by Rose, my mother (who we all know is a big part of why I am healthy today). She read a book called Body Ecology, that changed her life (and system)!

Before I get to the recipe, here are a few other healthy habits worth trying this New Year.

Raw Brownies

One of the benefits of cultured vegetables is the natural ability to control sweet cravings. Sugar is one of the biggest culprits of my flareups, and also one of my biggest weaknesses, or at least it used to be. After a year of cultured vegetables in my diet, I can honestly say, I do not really crave sweets anymore. However, when I need a little sweet treat, I turn to these Raw Chocolate Brownies (which contain no sugar). The sweetness comes from Medjool dates. I always have a little bag of these brownies in the freezer for a quick and easy sweet satisfaction.

Habit #2 (Lemon-Cayenne cleanse)

I picked up this habit from the Food Babe, a healthy food blogger that is located in NC as well. She starts every morning with hot water, lemon and cayenne. This is a natural liver cleanse that eliminates toxins from the digestive tract. Considering my condition, I jumped on this habit right away and have been pleased with the outcome ever since. Thank you Food Babe!!

If you can't quite stomach cayenne-lemon water, at least try Dandelion Tea (add a few drops of stevia for sweetness). I drink tea with lunch every day instead of water to help break down the food. I only drink water before and after meals, never during. This helps keeps bloating down and eases digestion.

Ways to Eat Cultured Vegetables

Back to cultured vegetables, which is a form of fermented food. Many people ask me why I eat fermented foods and I usually respond with "why not eat the most healing of foods?!?!"

For starters, fermented foods have been around for centuries and now come in several forms: yogurt (plain), kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and soaked grains. For this post, I am focusing on cultured vegetables (sauerkraut or kimchi), which are defined as "cut or shredded vegetables that are left in an airtight sanitary environment for several days or longer at room temperature" according to Body Ecology. This allows the enzymes on the vegetables to proliferate creating a mineral-rich food that aids digestion and eliminates toxins. They help fight yeast and other unhealthy pathogens in your intestines, which is great for controlling sugar cravings (see above). Finally, and most importantly, they are alkaline and very cleansing for the body.

First of all, NEVER heat cultured vegetables. It won't kill you or anything, it will just kill all of the digestive enzymes and good bacteria that you want. Other than just adding them to the side of any meal, here are a few other ways I like to eat them:

• with blue corn chips or other tortilla chips (the veggies act like a salsa)
• similarly, mix with avocado for a guaco-cultured-mole!
• over scrambled or fried eggs
• with cheese and crackers
• use some of the brine as a salad dressing. TONS of great nutrients in the dressing!
• spread on sandwiches in place of a condiment